Singular quasiparticle scattering in the proximity of charge instabilities

We analyze the dynamic scattering amplitude between quasiparticles at the Fermi surface in the proximity of a charge instability, which may occur in the high temperature superconductors. Within the infinite-U Hubbard-Holstein model we find that in the absence of long-range Coulomb forces the scattering amplitude is strongly singular at zero momentum transfer close to the phase separation instability. In the presence of long-range Coulomb forces the singularity occurs at finite wave vectors. In both cases we show how normal state properties are largely affected by this scattering. © 1995 The American Physical Society